Good Dog, Bad Dog

This post was provided to Pet Guardian Angels of America by Noah Rue

Some people paint all dogs with a bad, broad brush. Maybe they’ve had a terrible experience, or maybe for some reason they just are not a fan. However, going with the proof, a dog’s behavior as well as their character depend on a multitude of other factors.

See, there seems to be several misconceptions about certain kinds of dogs that don’t hold up to facts or are sometimes used in discrediting an animal unfairly. The consequences in these situations can be kind of grave, and are only misleading.

Let’s get a few things out of the way, then shall we? The next time someone comes up to you with one of these claims, know how to respond and be armed with the facts of the matter.

“Big Dogs Are Dangerous”

As children, many of us had negative experiences with big dogs. Pushing us over, chasing us, sometimes even attacking us. Sometimes this stigma is gained among adults through experiences of postal workers or door-to-door salespeople, who often have to combat poorly trained bigger dogs.

But please understand the difference here between correlation and causation. Big dogs are not in themselves dangerous, and you should not be discriminatory against or harbor anger and resentment toward people with big dogs. In fact, on average, small dogs may be more aggressive. The fact is, however, any dog can be friendly if it’s raised right, regardless of size or breed. The trainer has much more to do with it than genetic or physical aspects do.

This also goes for breeds of dogs as well. A common example is pit bulls – they are not the monsters they are commonly made out to be, for the same reasons.

“Training Dogs is More Trouble Than It’s Worth”

Again, blanket statements make everything worse. This could be applied to anything in life that requires work or sacrifice. Children, businesses, moving – everything that requires work will feel like it isn’t worth it at some point.

It’s silly to judge the reward before you receive it though, especially with something as intangible as a grown dog. For one, you don’t raise a dog or any living thing for the reward of it behaving well – there’s no guarantee of that. You raise it to give it a home and obtain the joy and friendship of the animal in doing so. There will always be a risk, but you go in knowing that. Raising a dog is absolutely a labor of love. Which leads us to another misconception about them.

“They’re Only Animals”

Dogs are especially trainable to become companions and friends. Whenever someone says dogs are “just animals,” they don’t understand the true loyal nature of a dog. Being pack animals, dogs are wired for interaction with other living creatures.

That’s why dogs have so commonly been called “man’s best friend” – they are bred for bonding and friendship. The entire lifespan of a dog, from puppy to canine, could potentially offer you one of the greatest friendships you’ve ever had, albeit not with another human. They’re actually used as therapy for seniors – pet therapy, as it’s called. So you can see, there’s not really a time of one’s life that can’t be uplifted by dog ownership.

By raising a dog right, you’ll come to realize how much of a positive impact they can have on your life. What experiences have you found with dog stereotypes? How have they been proven true or not true in your life? Let me know in an e-mail to ita408@comcast.net

Noah Yarnol Rue is always looking where his next trip will take him . When he’s not traveling the world, he’s writing articles on the new things he learns. Noah also enjoys a good meme from time to time. You can find Noah on LinkedIn.

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